Fewer International Students Came to the U.S. This Fall

"While overall international student enrollment has declined only 1 percent since fall 2024, new enrollment has declined 17 percent, according to fall 2025 snapshot data in the annual Open Doors report, published Monday by the Institute for International Education. The 825 U.S.-based higher learning institutions that responded to the fall snapshot survey host more than half of all international students in the country."

"Those factors include cuts to federal research funding, which has historically helped support graduate students. Although graduate students made up roughly 40 percent of the 1.2 million total international students studying in the U.S during the 2024-25 academic year, they're now driving the enrollment decline-a trend that started before Trump retook the White House. The fall 2025 snapshot data shows that pattern continuing."

U.S. visa and immigration enforcement and federal research funding cuts are reducing international student inflows, particularly at the graduate level. Overall international student enrollment declined 1 percent since fall 2024, while new enrollment fell 17 percent according to fall 2025 Open Doors snapshot data covering 825 U.S. institutions that host over half of international students. The snapshot indicates that recent policy and funding factors may relate to changes in new enrollment. Graduate students, who comprised roughly 40 percent of the 1.2 million international students in 2024–25, are driving declines. Fall 2025 data shows undergraduates up 2 percent, OPT up 14 percent, and graduate enrollment down 12 percent.

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